It's a day to just be yourself," Rob added. It's colorful and it means a lot to everybody. "Here you get to see floats and decorations and music. People dress up and I just get a kick out of it." "I go to the parade because it's different," Laurie said.
One Wisconsin woman named Laurie came to enjoy the festivities and support her cousin Rob who came to celebrate from Rockford, Illinois. Many people who celebrate Pride aren't gay but support those who are. "I usually come out here to celebrate being gay and just be happy," Delgrosso told Xinhua. Many Chicagoans come back to Boystown year after year, like Katrina Delgrosso, who came to Chicago's Pride parade for the last three years. This is a big celebration," Jeffries said. In the past she celebrated Pride in Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts. I usually celebrate Pride in Portland, but this will probably be the biggest one I've ever experienced since it's such a big city," Ensign told Xinhua.ĬJ Jeffries, an East Coast native, drew rainbow flags on herself and others with markers.
This is my first year in Chicago so this is my first Pride here. "I came out to join the festivities and have a good time. Matt Ensign, 19, has been to Pride parades in his home state of Oregon, but this year he celebrated Pride in Chicago for the first time. While these parades occur nationwide in the United States, Chicago's parade draws crowds from all over the country. (Xinhua/Emily Molli)ĬHICAGO, June 25 (Xinhua) - Chicago's famous Boystown neighborhood attracted thousands of people Sunday afternoon to celebrate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer sexual orientations.Įach year a parade flows a 4-kilometer stretch through Chicago's north side, featuring colorful floats, unique costumes, dance music, and more. Thousands of peope participate in Pride parade in U.S.